Okay, so who's the old man?

Whoa!

Well, you've done it again, Whashaza.  Somehow, no matter how dark and grim and hopeless your stories get, I gobble them up like candy.  Maybe I'm addicted.

Or maybe it's your writing style.  Always tense, always moving, always keeping me on the edge of my seat and yet finding beauty in the darkest moments.  Your characterizations, as usual, were spot on.  I particularly liked the little Sydney bit.

"It was time for him to do something. Now he just had to figure out what."

Typical Syd, the poor fool, gotta love him.  The Margaret story line is coming together in a very intriguing way.  When I read the last line, my heart skipped a beat or two.

Great job, and please don't leave us in the dark (get it?) for too long!